Think of your health when you're getting ready for the Bank Holiday

With the August Bank Holiday fast approaching, the local NHS is reminding people to plan ahead to see them through the Bank Holiday safely.

Order any regular medicines you need to take, so you don’t run out

Don’t leave health problems so they get worse – no-one wants to call for an ambulance or out of hours doctor at the weekend when you could have been helped sooner.

Planning ahead like this is very important to help stay well and it also helps the NHS at a time when services are busy.

Dr Andrew Catto, Chief Medical Officer at Integrated Care 24, said: “Our NHS 111 service is free to call, and available 24/7 when patients need medical help fast but it is not an emergency situation. However, during Bank Holiday weekends we receive a very high volume of calls from patients who have run out of routine repeat medication and need help accessing a repeat prescription, so try and plan ahead as much as possible. By ensuring that you have enough repeat medication to see you through the long weekend you will not only help reduce the pressure on local health services, but you will give yourself the best chance of staying well.”

Clinical pharmacist John Higgins works in a team based in Norwich GP practices, supporting GPs in prescribing and working with patients to ensure they have the right prescription medicines.

He said: “Most GP surgeries will be closed over the Bank Holiday and whilst there are always pharmacies open, prescription medicines must be ordered in good time.

“Your local pharmacist is a valuable resource - they can provide advice, offer services such as contraception, over-the-counter medicines to treat many health problems and of course can provide repeat prescriptions. If you have elderly relatives or neighbours, ask them if they need help collecting their medications.”

It is also important to make sure medicine cabinets contain all the essential items, including:

• painkillers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen, including versions for children